Chapter Thirty-Eight: The End...Or Is It?

Blair felt as if her heart was going to drop all the way into the pits of her belly as she and Jo gawped in both horror and fascination at the helicopter that appeared in front of them.

This can't be real, Blair thought, absentmindedly clutching Jo's arm for protection. I've never seen anything like this before!

"Oh, my gosh," Blair said, her voice quivering. "This looks like the Army!"

Jo shook her head in disbelief. "All this for us?" She asked, shaking her head and laughing nervously.

Blair couldn't help but whimper, tears flowing down her face.

If this is it, at least I have Jo, she thought, clutching Jo's arm as tight as she could.

Ted watched from his binoculars after the helicopter had landed a good distance from Blair & Jo's car. As he took a glimpse at the two of them for the first time, he couldn't help but feel some pity at their current situation.

He wished he could've run towards them and rescue them somehow. They have to be scared, he thought. And probably somewhat oblivious to the danger they're in.

He sighed frustratedly taking a look at all his surroundings. Nearby, he spotted a sharpshooter sporting a semi-automatic rifle, at the ready. This is what I was trying not to let happen!

"Hey! Are you outta your damn mind!?" He exclaimed to McNeal, who was standing next to him. "This is too much! They got guns pointing at them! Don't let those sons of bitches shoot those girls!"

McNeal looked indifferent. "Those 'girls' are armed, Ted," he said coldly. "Now you just calm down, alright? This is standard procedure. Everyone here knows what they're doing."

Ted felt his heart drop, staring at the car helplessly.

"What the hell am I gonna do? He asked, muttering to himself.

Blair and Jo both sat frozen inside the car in fear. Except for the sounds of their heavy breathing, neither one said a word. Jo already sensed how afraid Blair was and let her clutch and squeeze her arm as tightly as she could.

"Come out of the vehicle with your hands up," a male officer's voice resounded over a loudspeaker behind them. "You are under arrest. Any failure to obey our commands will be considered acts of aggression against us."

Look how far we made it! Jo thought. We went through so much hell but we made it ...together!

Something Blair had said a while back played in her mind: 'And that's one of the many reasons why I love you, Jo Polniaczek - you never give up…'

With a renewed burst of energy, Jo suddenly reached for her pistol. If it's a fight they want, then fuck it. But I'm not backin' down and I refuse to let them think they're gonna capture us!

Blair nearly gasped as she watched Jo start to load her gun up with fresh ammunition, a feeling of both horror and dread overtaking her.

"What are you doing?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"You told me one of the reasons why you loved me was because I never give up...so that's what we're doin'. We're not givin' up."

Blair felt hot tears come to her eyes. My little stubborn Bronx barbarian! I can't let Jo go out there and put her life on the line for me! She's defended me way too many times but not this time!

Time is running out! Ted thought frantically as he continued staring at the car through his binoculars. The faces of all of the people he had met with their connections to Jo and Blair flitted through his mind and he couldn't help but start to feel emotional. These young ladies both have bright futures ahead of them and people who love and care about them...I promised I'd have them both in one piece.

In a fit of rage and frustration, he slammed his binoculars to the ground, startling McNeal.

"Listen to me, Bradley!" He then pleaded, jumping in front of him. "You gotta let me talk to them! Please! This is getting out of hand! You gotta do something!"

McNeal frowned, sighing loudly. He turned his head the other way, away from Rollins.

Rollins groaned, not deterred.

"Look," he said, going around McNeal and standing in front of him. "I'm sorry I'm being a pain in the ass but how many times, Bradley?! How many times are those women gonna be fucked over, huh?! You could snap your fucking finger like that and get this shit to stop! You could save them and you won't even do that?! What the hell is the matter with you, huh?"

McNeal stomped his foot angrily. "Now hold on a minute there, Ted!" he growled, grabbing a hold of Rollins' lapels. "Now you listen here! You're way out of your jurisdiction here! I said to calm the fuck down! Don't make me sorry I brought you!" He then let go of Rollins and turned away.

Rollins put his hands on top of his head, grabbing at his thinning grey hair.

He's right. It's out of my hands….

"I don't fucking believe this shit!" He exclaimed loudly to himself.

If I don't stop crying, I don't think I'll ever stop, Blair thought.

I've never loved anyone the way I do Jo. If anything ever happened to her, I don't think I could live. She's my world and has been for so long.

"I remember I told you we wouldn't get caught," Blair said thoughtfully, her voice beginning to choke up with emotion. "So listen to me, Jo... let's not get caught."

Jo's mouth went dry. "Babe...what are you talkin' about?" She asked cautiously, a feeling something was coming.

Blair glanced with her eyes focused towards the canyon only mere feet in front of them. I can't believe this is even coming out of my mouth, Blair thought. But I'd rather die with Jo by my side than live a life in prison or going back to Casey. And somehow, I know she feels the same way.

"Let's just keep going, Jo," Blair pleaded, her eyes shining with new tears.

"Whaddya mean?" Jo prodded.

"Go," Blair said softly, nudging the air with her chin pointed to the canyon.

Jo had already had the feeling what Blair was proposing but now that her feeling had been confirmed, she only followed her girlfriend's sad yet peaceful gaze towards the canyon.

And surprisingly, Jo understood Blair's decision. There's nothing back home for us...we've probably burned our bridges with everyone back home...nothing to look forward to but prison and our miserable relationships with Casey and Rick.

Being with Blair has felt so...free. Together, we can choose how we end this story and not let anyone define or finish it for us. We said we were in this together and that's how we're gonna end it.

Tears slipped from Jo's eyes. Blair's gotta be the most bravest person I've ever met in my life.

"Are ya sure?" She asked, chuckling nervously.

Blair nodded her head slowly. "Yeah…" She said.

She then reached out a hand towards Jo's wet cheek, fondling it.

The two women both smiled sadly.

"Hit it, baby," Blair said in a weepy voice, letting go of Jo's cheek.

Blair and Jo both stared at each other lovingly, both women hugging each other tightly.

When they had let go, Jo reached across and kissed Blair long and hard. She then cradled Blair's face with her hands, pressing her forehead against Blair's.

"You're the best, Jo. I love you so fucking much," Blair professed after Jo had removed her lips from Blair's.

"Me, too, sweetie," Jo said, grabbing hold of Blair's face with her hands. "Me, too."

She gave Blair a final nod and then put the car into gear.

"Hey! What the fuck's going on!?" McNeal shouted in confusion. "What the...HEY!"

Rollins had bolted as fast as he could away from him when a sudden noise that sounded to him like the screeching of tires alerted him.

A shot rang out in Rollins' direction from a sharpshooter but it didn't hit him. McNeal continued watching as Rollins ran away from him, dust blocking his vision.

When the dust cleared, he and several police officers watched in horror as they witnessed the GTO convertible with the two female fugitives inside speed towards the canyon.

"Holy shit," he muttered to himself. Are they doing what I think they're doing?

Jo felt as if she were flying. As she and Blair sped towards the canyon, nothing else really mattered to her other than the tight grip of Blair's hand clutching hers, the peaceful smile on Blair's face and the feeling of peace she also felt. She slammed hard on the brakes and watched as she and her girlfriend soared into the air, still holding hands.

She was together with Blair. Forever…and Jo and Blair both knew they didn't want it any other way...

Jo had expected to be met with pain or even death when she and Blair plummeted but instead, she had only heard a voice calling her name and shaking her.

"Jo...Jo...wake up…"

Jo's eyes widened and she gasped loudly, looking into the eyes of a person that was definitely not Blair.